Instagram-famous burger takeaway Ding to open in Sunderland - but you'll have to be quick as burgers sell out in minutes

Ding will operate from the Roker Hotel in Sunderland from Saturday, March 6 where customers can book take-away slots over the weekend to try the famous ‘mince in a bun.’

The original Hartlepool burger joint, which operates as a take-away from the Pot House pub on the Headland only launched last October during the pandemic but has proved a hit with customers.

Set up by Jamie Shires, Stuart Setterfield and Stuart Douglass, the group of ‘dings’ (Hartlepool slang for idiots) say there is no secret to their success.

Jamie said: “Some of us still have day jobs so we can’t be open all the time yet its still seems to be popular, there’s no real marketing tactic – just a group of friends who love burgers.”

Ding use a booking portal online where customers can book slots for the weekend ahead. Thousands of people log on to get slots which sell out fast, slots sold out within the first minute when they last opened for bookings in Hartlepool.

Sunderland’s booking system will be launched on March 2 through Ding’s Instagram for customers to try and grab a slot.

The company is planning to provide a dine-in service at some of their locations after the national lockdown and is actively looking for beer gardens to cater for customers.

The burger joint, who source produce from local butchers and bakers say their Smashed Hit burger which consists of two mustard cooked beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles and smashed sauce is the star of the show and hopes Sunderland also love the dish.

Jamie added: “I’m nervous but super excited about coming to Sunderland, I have a soft spot for the place and we all can’t wait to get started.

"Our plan is to provide a dine-in service when we can but we are looking for beer gardens so we can still run the business outside in the meantime.”

You can follow Ding on instagram here.